Aadi Pooram is an annual festival celebrated in the Vaishnavite shrines of
Tamil Nadu. It falls on the Pooram asterism in the fourth month of the Tamil calendar,
Aadi. The festival is held to mark the birth of
Andal, the consort of Sri Ranganatha (an incarnation of
Vishnu), who hailed
Lord Krishna in her Pasurams (verses) and ultimately merged with him. It is famous in
Srivilliputtur, the birthplace of Andal.
Usually, Aadi Pooram Festival is celebrated for 10 days in Vaishnavite temples, the final day being Aadi Pooram. For the first nine days there is recitation of Thiruppavai and Pallandu in the mornings. This is followed by a procession and thereafter an exchange of garlands between Andal and Lord Parthasarathy. On the final day after the regular puja (Thiru Aaradhanam), Theertham (holy water) is distributed to devotees marking the conclusion of the 10-day festival.
Aadi Pooram conducted in the Sri Parthasarathy Temple at Chennai and the Shri Ranganathasamy Temple at Srirangam are much popular.
[Source All India (121) 30-Mar-05]
